Delhi High Court Rejects Arvind Kejriwal’s Recusal Plea in Excise Policy Case

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s plea for her recusal from the Delhi Excise Policy case, terming it an attempt to put the judiciary on trial.

Kejriwal alleged potential bias as the judge’s children are Central government panel counsel and she attended events by an RSS-affiliated legal wing.

The Court held that a judge’s impartiality is presumed unless rebutted by evidence, not conjecture. Justice Sharma remarked that recusing would set a troubling precedent where litigants "manage" justice through insinuations.

She emphasized that family members' professional rights cannot be curtailed and affirmed that the Court would not abdicate its duty.

[Arvind Kejriwal v. Central Bureau of Investigation]